Obsession by Bonnie Vanak Read Free Book Online Page B

received a mild shock. Daniel lifted his head and stared at her as if she were an alien from outer space. His eyes glazed over and he swayed, as if he were going into a deep trance.
    It was spooky and a chill raced down her spine.
    “Daniel?” she asked. “You okay?”
    He spoke in a deep, ominous tone, as if he were an ancient Greek Oracle. “You’re not one of us. You hunger for what you lack, like he did. He is soulless and evil.”
    What the hell?
    Alexa climbed down and put her hands on the boy’s thin shoulders. “Daniel, it’s okay, sweetie. This is Jess, my good friend.”
    “Alexa, she will turn on you if the evil growing inside her is not stopped,” Daniel droned.
    A cold shiver snaked down her spine. Jessica’s stomach turned. It was not only creepy, it was downright chilling, as if Daniel had turned from a child into a something else.
    “Daniel!” Alexa hugged him as he sagged against her, suddenly boneless. Her friend looked deeply troubled. “I’m sorry. He’s been like this since being freed from the Changeling Gnome’s possession. J.J. thinks it’s a result of being possessed by a Gnome for years. He has these visions…last week he told J.J. that he’d be stranded on the road and he got stuck outside Durango. Small things like that. But never anything this grim.”
    Unease flickered through her. Then Daniel went silent. He wriggled out of Alexa’s tight grip. “What happened?” he asked, his brow creasing. “Did I zone out again?”
    Major zone out. Alexa’s mouth wobbled, but as she started to speak, Jessica cut her off. “A little.”
    His mouth pulled downward and he looked like someone kicked him in the guts. Her stomach tightened again. He was just a kid. “It’s not a big deal. I get the same way, talking about video games.”
    Daniel nodded, but somehow he looked older and weary. He blinked hard. “Aunt Alexa, I want to visit the horses.”
    Alexa smoothed down his hair. “Okay, honey, but make sure you stay behind the fence.”
    They watched Daniel race over to the horse corral as if nothing had happened.
    “It’s his favorite place, hanging out here. I think he likes to be alone, connect with the horses.” Alexa turned to her. “I’m sorry, Jess. I know that was…strange.”
    “I’d never turn on you. I don’t know why he’d say such a thing.” Jessica shook her head. “Why?”
    “Daniel’s had a rough time of it. He’ll get used to you. Just give him a day or two.”
    Jessica watched him look at the grazing horses. “He doesn’t remember anything after he goes into that mood?”
    Her friend shook her head. “Like it’s been erased from his mind.” Alexa squeezed her hand. “I’m sure it’s nothing. He’ll get used to you. He’s just not good with strangers.”
    “And I can be quite strange,” Jessica joked, but unease rippled through her. If Daniel had psychic powers, he could be trouble. What if Daniel could read minds and figure out Jessica was really here to hack into J.J.’s computer system and access the forbidden database recording the genealogy and records of all Lupines?
    Though it grated against her loyalty to her friend, she had to keep her plans secret from Alexa. She and Alexa and Molly had never kept secrets from each other during their friendship. But Alexa had J.J. and Daniel now, and her own family.
    Jessica smiled and linked her arm through Alexa’s. “Enough horses and cowboy stuff. Let’s go back to the house. I need to shower off this travel dust and then we can talk like old times. Maybe bake cookies and sit on the porch and gossip about men.”
    Alexa glanced away. “Jane has to get dinner ready. Mom was going to make cookies tomorrow. And I need to talk with J.J. He’s in the middle of an important business deal. Why don’t you shower and rest until dinner? We’re having roast chicken and new potatoes.”
    Jessica hid her disappointment. She had hoped something fun would help them reconnect. “Sure.”
    Alexa gave